DSFC Media, Author at Dungannon Swifts FC

Dungannon Swifts 2 Glenavon 3

by DSFC Media | Apr 3, 2013 | Uncategorized

Dungannon Swifts are still searching for the victory which will secure their senior status after blowing a two-goal lead against Glenavon on Tuesday.

They ended up losing a match they should have easily won, as the Lurgan side staged a stunning turnaround at Stangmore Park. It seemed Dungannon were on course for the points when goals from ex-Glenavon pair Matt Hazley and James Costello gave them a 2-0 lead. But Marc Brown started the comeback with a free-kick soon afterwards and Mark Farren headed the visitors level two minutes into the second half. Ciaran Martyn completed the comeback just short of the hour mark. Swifts manager Darren Murphy admitted he was shocked to emerge empty-handed from a game his team had dominated. “I feel sick after that – I don’t know how we lost it,” he said. “The chances that we missed in the first half came back to bite us. “We should have been four or five goals up at the break.” With Donegal Celtic beating Lisburn Distillery, Dungannon’s lead over the relegation zone has been cut to nine points. They are still in a comfortable position with just four rounds of fixtures left, but Murphy would have wanted to end their home campaign on a winning note. Dungannon were handed a dream start when Hazley scored after 16 minutes. It came from a penalty which was awarded after Eddie McCallion hauled down Stefan Lavery inside the box. The lead was almost doubled when Costello hit the inside of the post two minutes later. Although unfortunate, he probably should have squared to Hazley who was waiting in a better position. Costello made up for that miss, however, when he fired into the bottom corner in the 23^rd minute. So far, so good for Dungannon, who knew three points would guarantee survival. But the game was back in the balance just three minutes later when Brown’s curling free-kick found a way around the wall to make it 2-1. That aside, the chances continued for Dungannon. Glenavon goalkeeper David O’Hare tipped a header from Costello just over while Terry Fitzpatrick clipped the top of the bar from the resulting corner. And they paid for those misses when Glenavon levelled two minutes into the second half. Again Brown was involved, his deep corner being met by a bullet header from Farren to leave the game all square. Glenavon edged ahead with 59 minutes played through Martyn. He nodded home from close range after Guy Bates’ header came back off the underside of the bar from another excellent Brown free kick. Dungannon piled men forward in search of an equaliser but Chris Lavery headed their best chance straight at the goalkeeper. DGN SWIFTS: Curran, McKerr, Montgomery, McMinn, Grieve, O’Neill (PJ Lavery, 86), Fitzpatrick, Hutchinson (Harpur, 57), Hazley, Costello (C Lavery, 75), S Lavery Subs not used: Glackin, Brennan GLENAVON: O’Hare, Shannon, Haughey, McCallion, Turkington, Brown, Kilmartin, Gardiner (Neill, 88), Martyn, Farren (Hamilton, 90), Bates Subs not used: Doherty, Hagan, McGrory Referee: Tim Marshall (Irvinestown)

Dungannon Swifts 0 Donegal Celtic 0

by DSFC Media | Apr 1, 2013 | Uncategorized

The final score might suggest otherwise, but there was a clear winner and loser from the weekend’s big basement battle at Stangmore Park.

Another crucial point saw Dungannon Swifts edge ever closer to safety as Donegal Celtic’s survival hopes suffered another severe blow.

A game high on tension but low on quality finished with Dungannon still 12 points ahead of the danger zone and on the verge of survival.

They need just three more points to guarantee what most know already – that they will be playing top division football again next season.

Saturday’s game was one neither side could afford to lose, and the pressure seemed to tell at times.

The match itself was a forgettable affair, producing few chances or incidents of note.

DC midfielder Sean Cleary came closest to snatching a winner with a 25-yard drive which struck the woodwork late in the first half.

Now the focus turns to the second round of Easter fixtures tomorrow.

Dungannon host Glenavon knowing a win will secure survival, while Donegal Celtic will go bottom if they lose at fellow strugglers Lisburn Distillery.

The build-up to Saturday’s game was overshadowed by a player registration row which ended with Pat McAllister’s side being stripped of three points.

Cleary, the player at the centre of the controversy, was named in their line-up while there was also a start for former Swifts player Stephen O’Neill.

The early chances fell to Dungannon and Stefan Lavery drew an early save from the goalkeeper when he met a free-kick from Neal Gawley.

The same two players combined minutes later, Lavery heading another Gawley set-piece towards Terry Fitzpatrick, but the midfielder was unable to force the ball home.

Fitzpatrick put his hands to his head, knowing that a great chance had slipped away.

DC’s first chance came when Mark Miskimmin got past Johnny Montgomery, but his snapshot from a demanding angle was blocked by the ‘keeper.

Miskimmin then turned provider as he chased and won a ball and switched the play to O’Neill, but his shot lacked the power or accuracy to beat Jonny Curran.

It perhaps came as no surprise from a player who struggled to make an impact during his brief spell with Dungannon earlier in the campaign.

But the visitors’ best effort came with the final kick of the first half, Cleary’s powerful drive crashing back off the left post.

The game continued to disappoint in the second half.

Some neat control from James Costello created a rare chance but he was denied by Mark Burns’ perfectly-timed tackle. Grant Hutchinson’s follow-up strike was deflected wide.

Dungannon’s best spell came in the final 10 minutes.

First PJ Lavery played the ball in to Matt Hazley but the midfielder failed to take advantage, much to the frustration of manager Darren Murphy who punched the air on the touchline.

Then Costello exchanged passes with Hazley and ran through on goal, but John Connolly made a superb save to divert his shot wide.

The home side thought they had won it in stoppage time when Costello set up Hazley, but the midfielder sent his effort agonisingly wide of goal.

It was that sort of afternoon, but a point will surely be enough for Dungannon.

DGN SWIFTS: Curran, McKerr, Montgomery, McMinn (PJ Lavery, 74), Grieve, S Lavery (C Lavery, 89), Costello, Hazley, Gawley (O’Neill, 64), Fitzpatrick, Hutchinson

Subs not used: Douglas, Glackin

DONEGAL CELTIC: Connolly, McCann, Bradley (M Burns, 27), C Burns, McShane, McAreavey, Downey (Deans, 67), Cleary, Gargan, Miskimmin (Hughes, 61), O’Neill

Subs not used: Devine, Bannon

Referee: Ian McNabb (Newtownabbey)

Swifts through to Semi-final of the Mid Ulster Cup.

by DSFC Media | Mar 28, 2013 | Uncategorized

Dungannon Swifts played Armagh City in the Quarter final of the Mid Ulster Cup.

Final Score : Dungannon Swifts 4-3 Armagh City.

Goal scorers: Jamie Douglas, Adam McMinn x2 and James Costello

Swifts Team: Murphy, McKerr, McMinn, Friars, O’Rourke, Glackin, Hutchinson, C Lavery, O’Neill, S Lavery, Douglas.

Subs: Fitzpatrick, PJ Lavery & Costello

Report: Glentoran 2-3 Dungannon Swifts

by DSFC Media | Mar 22, 2013 | Uncategorized

Dungannon recorded a superb victory in east Belfast on Tuesday night after a battling performance saw them edge out Glentoran, moving Darren Murphy’s side up to 9th in the Premiership table.

The game kicked off on a sticky and soaking wet Oval pitch, however the adverse conditions didn’t seem to affect the home side. Glentoran raced into the lead after just 8 minutes when left-back Jason Hill was sent through on goal and slid the ball beneath the onrushing Jonathan Curran. The ball threatened to get held up in the muddy goalmouth, however Glens striker Andy Waterworth poked the ball into the unguarded Swifts net.

With the wind in their sails, Glentoran began to pepper the Swifts goal. Jimmy Callacher fired a free-kick into Curran’s arms, and Waterworth wasted a great opportunity on 15 minutes where a heavy touch allowed Curran to gather at the big striker’s feet. The next opportunity fell to Stephen McAlorum, whose half-volley narrowly whistled past Curran’s post. But, just before the half hour and against the run of play, the Swifts equalised. Following a series of Dungannon corners, James Costello darted in front of his marker and flicked the ball home at the near post.

The goal seemed to spur the Swifts on and just 10 minutes later they took the lead in spectacular fashion. Michael McKerr collected the ball on the half-way line and drove forward, leaving the Glentoran defence in his wake, before finishing superbly past Elliott Morris from an acute angle. The Glens almost responded instantly, with Waterworth firing a volley over after being chipped through by Callacher, and the east Belfast outfit should’ve been level on 44 minutes. Curran spilled a cross to the feet of Richard Clarke, but luckily for the Swifts ‘keeper, Clarke had turned around and he was able to grab the loose ball.

With the home crowd growing more and more frustrated, Glentoran looked to level things up. On 53 minutes, Clarke’s side footed volley was comfortably saved by Curran, and a few minutes later Jim O’Hanlon’s strike fizzed over the bar after some great build-up play. However, Dungannon were always a threat on the break and Costello powered a 25-yard effort inches wide just moments after O’Hanlon’s shot.

After soaking up a lot of Glentoran pressure, Dungannon extended their lead on 69 minutes. A quick break led to the ball finding Costello and the big striker looked up, set himself and curled a delightful finish beyond the reach of Morris and into the opposite corner. Glentoran now threw everything at Dungannon’s defence, but they simply could not find a way to cut the Swifts back line open. With just 5 minutes left, David Howland flicked the ball home to set up a tense and nervy finale. However, Dungannon held out for a superb victory that sees them move up to 9th in the Danske Bank Premiership table.

Sam Braik

Preview: Dungannon Swifts vs Glentoran

by DSFC Media | Mar 18, 2013 | Uncategorized

Dungannon Swifts return to action tomorrow night as they travel to east Belfast to take on 4th placed Glentoran at The Oval in a fixture now re-scheduled for the third time.

After inclement weather has now postponed the fixture twice, the two clubs will be eager to finally get it played at the third time of asking and out of the way. In the last meeting between the two clubs, Glens striker Andy Waterworth struck an injury time winner as Glentoran snatched a 2-1 victory in a tight, even game. On that day, the Swifts rightly felt hard done by and revenge will surely be on their minds tomorrow evening.

After Saturday’s frustrating defeat to Coleraine, Dungannon will be looking to get a good result under their belt and finish the campaign strongly. On their last trip to the capital, the Swifts managed to secure a fantastic 1-1 draw against 2nd placed Crusaders. With relegation seemingly no longer a threat, so manager Darren Murphy will be looking to try and gain a solid foothold for next year.

Glentoran go into the game off the back of an impressive 3-0 home win against Ballinamallard on Saturday. Still in contention for third place and with an Irish Cup Semi-Final to look forward to, the east Belfast outfit have been in superb form, with four wins and two draws in their last six league games, and unbeaten since mid-January.

Dungannon remain without Jonny Topley, who sustained a possible season-ending knee injury against Portadown in February, while former Northern Irish international Stuart Elliott terminated his contract at the Glens this week following an unsuccessful return to the club where he made his name.

So get yourselves down to The Oval and cheer on the Swifts!

Sam Braik

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